Ouch! Sounds like a messy situation - I hope you get this sorted out without causing you too much hassle. Such a shame such a great car is causing owners grief for what are really just cosmetic issues.
Poll for Those with Paint Blistering / Bubbling Defect
- Thread starter 981KMAN
- Start date
Aryanenzo
New member
- Jul 2, 2026
- 3
- 0
- My Specs:
- Emira V6
Got my 2024 Emira V6 MT in Hethel Yellow used a month ago. It was manufactured January 2024. Before purchase i carefully inspected every single panel for bubbles but I was not careful enough! Just before taking it in for a full body PPF i noticed some tiny paint bubbles on the roof panel. I re-inspected the entire vehicle and found no other panels affected. I honestly am debating to not take it in, my local dealer is absolutely horrible and I don't want to deal with this. It's not really in my sight so it's not a big deal to me personally. It's a Lotus thing and given how many panels people have been through it doesn't seem like replacing the panel is a bit of a gamble.
Do we know the time period in which the bubbles appear? I heard somewhere its in the first 24 months. Do they stop appearing? Like should I be worried the bubbles will just spread and spread until the entire roof is covered in bubbles?
Do we know the time period in which the bubbles appear? I heard somewhere its in the first 24 months. Do they stop appearing? Like should I be worried the bubbles will just spread and spread until the entire roof is covered in bubbles?
The roof is not one of the panels affected. If you have a bubble there, I suspect it’s probably a paint application issue and therefore can be treated as such.
The affected panels are the doors and the rear clam. These need replacing if they bubble, not respraying. Doors appear to be more common than the rear clam.
As for time frame, yes most appear within the two year period, but not all.
The affected panels are the doors and the rear clam. These need replacing if they bubble, not respraying. Doors appear to be more common than the rear clam.
As for time frame, yes most appear within the two year period, but not all.
As Orchardbike states the roof panel is not made by Teijin and is made by Lotus. The roof is not TCA It doesn't suffer from the panel blistering problem.
You likely have just a paint problem and it can be treated as such. sand back, respray and blend in. Hethel Yellow is easy to colour match too.
That's a good job as the roof is bonded to the car not bolted on so replacing that as a panel would be a big job.
If your dealer is a pain take it to your local body shop for the work (extra points if that have worked with fibreglass).
Let us know how the repair goes.
You likely have just a paint problem and it can be treated as such. sand back, respray and blend in. Hethel Yellow is easy to colour match too.
That's a good job as the roof is bonded to the car not bolted on so replacing that as a panel would be a big job.
If your dealer is a pain take it to your local body shop for the work (extra points if that have worked with fibreglass).
Let us know how the repair goes.
Do you know who makes the other panels because rear quarters, tails gates and front wings have all been affected by blisters. I have just had my second replacement drivers door and the body shop have been sloppy on masking and detail, the rear part of door jam has rough overspray on it and the inner boot area of the quarter panel has a bare bit where they rubbed through the paint to prep before painting the panel. It wont be going there again!!
Yes, The front wings, bonnet and roof are made by Lotus at their composites shop in Hethel.
I don't know where you are in the UK but I can recommend Beaconsfield Workshop for these repairs - they've done 100s of Emiras. Beaconsfield is kind of central but south-ish so maybe OK for you?
Where did you get yours replaced/resprayed, it sounds rough - was it a warranty repair through the dealership?
Yes warranty repair by dealer, I am in Southampton.
Hendy Lotus then? They normally have a good reputation, I'm surprised they've left your car like this. But Beaconsfield Workshop isn't too far from you - nor is Specialised Paintwork in Reading. Bell & Colville are only an hour away for you too, they have a very good reputation.
Hendy Performance are brilliant and do a super job, the Hendy body shop is in Poole, sort of lets the overall Hendy experience down!!!
Lotus Chiswick are a branch of Endeavour I believe - same ones that run Lotus Colchester.I have tried to log mine with Lotus Chiswick, they have this time asked for all sorts of pictures front plate, rear plate, vin, side ect seem strange when the bubbles is on the passenger door.
You might want to research on this forum for other owners' experience of dealing with Endeavour for your Lotus.
Edit: You could always give Beaconsfield Workshop a ring and ask if they would look at your car for you as a second opinion.
It is a pity that one aspect of Hendy are great, whereas another less so.
My dealings with Southampton have been brilliant, the staff very customer focused and the Techs seem to know what they are doing. Poole on the other hand seem to have a lousy reputation and that is a pity, as my dealings with them from 2004 ==> 2017 were great(My Elise seemed to see them about once every 2 years
)Thanks I will see how it goes or I may reach out to them.
Create an account or login to comment
Join now to leave a comment enjoy browsing the site ad-free!
Create account
Create an account on our community. It's easy!
Log in
Already have an account? Log in here.
Similar threads
Supporting Vendors
View all →
